Hamas chief threatens to kidnap more Israeli soldiers

FILE - Head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, left, and Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip Yahya Sinwar attend a protest in Gaza City, June 26, 2019

Hamas chief cited as saying prisoner swap talks with Israel yet to see a breakthrough

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh threatened Wednesday that the Gaza-based terrorist group could kidnap more Israeli soldiers, Israel’s Channel 12 reports.

The remarks were made during an interview for Al Jazeera, in response to a question regarding the reported prisoner swap talks with Israel.

Haniyeh said that the talks are yet to see a breakthrough and threatened that the group could increase its “loot.”

He added that the group would only agree to a deal that would grant freedom to those re-arrested by Israel after being released under an earlier swap, which saw IDF First Class Sgt. Gilad Schalit freed from Hamas captivity.

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The past few weeks saw a multitude of reports on under-the-radar talks between Israel and Hamas on a prisoner swap with international mediation.

The Gaza terrorist group is known to be holding two Israeli citizens, Avraham Mengistu and Hashem Badawi al-Sayid.

It has also reportedly offered to provide Israel with information on the location of the remains of two IDF soldiers killed in 2014, St.-Sgt. Oron Shaul and Lt. Hadar Goldin.

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